Greeley-Evans District 6 board meeting may end in another offer to teachers

A Monday meeting by the Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education has been set as a time to discuss their negotiations with the teachers of the Greeley Education Association, but it could become something more important – such as making another offer to the teachers union.

Following the vote in early October in which the teachers union overwhelmingly rejected the district’s latest contract offer, both sides have been at a standstill – leaving tensions high and at an impasse without an end in sight.

No official action has been taken by either side, though the board has held two executive sessions on the matter following the vote. The meetings are closed to the public, though no official actions could have been taken.

In June, the District 6 board approved a budget that called for a salary freeze but also coverage of health and retirement plans.

The two biggest pillars of the union’s demands, however, consist of full coverage of its salary schedule as well as an additional roughly 2 percent raise.

Board President Bruce Broderius said earlier that covering these raises would force cutbacks – even layoffs – due to the district’s traditionally low funding levels. Union officials, however, have contended that a portion of the $3.4 million the district received in increased funding from the state this year should go to teacher salaries.

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District 6 spokesman Roger Fielder said Saturday that the negotiations have been placed on the board’s agenda as a “discussion item,” but that could change during the meeting. “The negotiations will be discussed,” Fielder said, “but where it goes from there is up to the board.”

Fiedler said the board has wanted a public discussion concerning the status of negotiations, and that’s why they placed it on Monday’s agenda.